Pages tagged "general"

Americans for Democratic Action Southeastern Pennsylvania urges our membership to be involved in this extraordinarily critical election cycle. At few other times in our lives has an election been more important for our democracy. We must participate–on the ground, on the phone, person-to-person, monetarily. Let us hold true to ADA's values and invest in good government for our future by taking action in all the ways that we can.

From Glenavie Norton, Chair: I know that I have said before in this space that we face a “must win” election. This has never been more true than it will be on November 6, 2012. At stake not only is the presidency but also both houses of congress and our future Supreme Court. If we lose these, our already imperiled democracy may cease to exist as a democracy and our identity–as a nation with opportunity for every citizen and equal justice for all–lie in ruins.

In Southeastern Pennsylvania, we strongly urge you to vote for the following candidates and encourage like-minded voters in your community to do the same.

Only if you are voting for the first time at a poll, must you present an ID such as current driver’s license, utility bill, lease, or voter registration card. Vote November 6, 2012. Polls are open 7 am to 8 pm.

From the Chair: In a time when we are increasingly worried about party polarization and the Republican Party’s extreme rightward swing, ADA is pleased to endorse good government candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

The reign of Commissioner Marge Tartaglione is finally coming to a close after many decades. But reform will not be accomplished unless Democrat Stephanie Singer, who beat Tartaglione, replaces her as chairperson. The only way that can happen is if Republican Al Schmidt is elected instead of Republican incumbent, Joseph Duda. Otherwise incumbent Democrat Anthony Clark, a supporter of Tartaglione, will likely become Chair since Duda and Clark will vote for him. ADA has found Al Schmidt to be intelligent, thoughtful, and dedicated to ensuring that registration and voting in Philadelphia proceed in an accessible, transparent, and accountable manner. Vote Singer and Schmidt.

This is an absolutely critical election! The outcome means control of the US Congress, the PA Governor, the PA House and the re-districting of legislative districts. If the Republicans gain control in Washington, we can say goodbye to the reforms undertaken by President Obama and hello to the right-wing Tea Party fringe with its promises to undermine Social Security, Medicare, environmental and health care reforms, unemployment benefits, and stimulus spending, and return us to the Bush/Cheney era of no social safety net and no regulation.

At the State level, redistricting controlled by the legislature and the Governor will have a huge impact for the next decade, since districts are drawn after each census. The last time the Republicans controlled redistricting they gave us districts spanning 4 counties and gerrymandered many districts so that no real competition was possible. As we have learned the hard way, safe seats too often guarantee unsafe public policies and a diminished democratic process.